Voting machine



Sept 6,1949- A. N. GusTAvsoN 2,481,011

VOTING MACHINE Filed July 51, 1945 ssheets-sheeu 1 r= Ef: 33

X Y Z sept. 6, 1949. A. N, GUSTAVSON y2,481,011,

VOTING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1945 3 SheetfsSheet 2 f o 49 54 `4a 50 lsq v o o47 Il 56 O 5 V O 33 69 o5 55 es Z E: 4 5l 5, 9

A. N. GUsTAvsoN 2,481,011

VOTING MACHINE sept. 6, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1945 Patented Sept. 6, 1949 VOTINGMACHINE Alvin N. Gustavson, Bemus Point, N. Y., assignor to AutomaticVoting Machine Corporation, Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication July 31, 1945, Serial No. 608,037 3 Claims. (Cl. 235,54)

This invention relates to an improvement in voting machines and moreparticularly to a structure by which to control certain kinds of votingsuch, for example, as cumulative voting for general assembly, and is acontinuation in part of my application, Serial No. 472,344, led January14, 1943, now forfeited. c

In the disclosed form the invention comprises a mechanism that isadapted to be mounted in a voting machine, being located in closeproximity to the main grouping channel of the machine. It may be removedand reinstalled in other machines or left as a permanent installation inthe lirst machine in which it is installed. The type of voting machineto which the invention is particularly adaptable includes a multiplicityof indicator operable interlocking straps. Any desired groups of thesestraps may be connected with and controlled by the mechanism to bothenable and require a voter to ballot in accordance with given electionlaws.

In certain areas provision is made for cumulative voting such as forvoting for representatives in general assembly. Even in these areaslocal election requirements vary and in a particular example, a voter bylaw is given three votes with respect to the candidates forrepresentative to general assembly and may distribute these three votesamong the candidates of his own party or among the candidates of his ownand other parties. A voter may cast all three votes for a singlecandidate, one vote for each of three candidates, or split his vote andcast one and one-half votes for each of two selected candidates.

The present invention is particularly directed `to the provision of avoting machine mechanism that enables and controls cumulative Avotingand this, therefore, constitutes one of the objects thereof.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a cumulativemechanism that is readily installable and includes relatively few easilyoperable parts.

Other objects and advantages will be more fully understood from aconsideration of the fol-- lowing specification taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. 1 is a frontelevational View of a portion `of the keyboard of a voting machine thathas been arranged for voting on candidates for rep-` resentatives ingeneral assembly;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of that portion of themain grouping channel together with interlocking straps with which thecumulative mechanism is intended to be associated;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the cumulative mechanism attachedto the main grouping channel;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cumulative mechanism being shownfrom the side that is applied to the main grouping channel;

Fig. 5 is an end and partial sectional View of the mechanism and maingrouping channel, being taken substantially as indicated at 5-5 of Fig.3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the main grouping channel,parts being broken away to show the strap, roller and compensatorrelationship;

Fig. 7 is van elevational view of the cumulative mechanism with theparts in the position concerned with casting one and one-half votes foreach of two candidates;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. "I, showing the position of themechanism parts when a voter casts one vote for each of threecandidates; and

Fig. 9 is a still further View of the mechanism with the parts in aposition permitting the voter to cast three votes for a singlecandidate.

Reference is more particularly had to the drawing wherein the numeral I0is employed to generally designate a portion of a voting machinekeyboard. This keyboard is standard with voting machines to which theinvention is applicable and includes a multiplicity of horizontal rowsof indicators Il. Each indicator, through a well known mechanism iscapable of registering a vote on a suitable counter subsequent to beingmoved to a downwardly directed position with the pointed end of theindicator overlying the name of a candidate on the ballot label I2. InFig. 1 of the drawing the voting machine is shown set up for cumulativevoting with six candidates, this illustration being for the sole purposeof disclosing the applicability of the invention to multiple cumulativevoting. It Will be noted that each candidate A, B, C, D, E, F, appearsthree times on the ballot labels I2 and are arranged in three groups X,Y, Z. For clarity the left hand group of candidates includes a numeralone which signies that a voter may cast only one vote for from one tothree candidates in group X. In group Y there appears the numeral oneand onehalf under each of the candidates names which signifies that avoter can cast one and one-half votes for each of two candidates. Ingroup Z, the numeral 3 is shown to designate that a voter may cast threevotes for one of the candidates.

Thus it is possible for a voter to cast one, one and one-half or threevotes for any one candidate, or, if casting -a single vote for onecandidate, may cast a single vote for one or two other candidates, buthe is not permitted to cast two votes for a single candidate.

Each of the indicators of a voting machine of the type disclosed, isconnected' with and serves to actuate an interlocking strap designatedby the numeral i3. Each strap includes a ledge or shoulder i4, the lowerend of the strap being formed with a neck I6 and an enlarged end l1. Theneck and end I6 and I1 project into a main grouping channel I8, whichforms a conventional part of the voting machine and includes a pair ofspaced apart plates i9 having inwardly opening channels 2l that receivethe enlarged ends of rollers 22. For convenience, the space betweenVeach pair oi rollers*accommodates the neck and end i6 and l1 of twostraps, the enlarged ends being in opposed relation. When one of thevindicators H on the face of the machine is manipulated the correspondingstrap I3 is raised, causing the end l1 thereof to move upwardly betweenand laterally spread apart the rollers with which it isva'ssociated. Tocontrol the number of straps that may be raised in this manner, suitablegrouping pins 23 and compensators 24 are provided. The grouping pinsserve to generally limit movement of the rollers, whereasthecompensators provide additional limitation to movement of the rollersand thus control the number of enlarged ends l1 of the straps that maybebrought intoY position with the rollers within a group of any givensize.

In the present illustration of the invention, that portion of the maingrouping channel I8 under consideration is arranged with four groupinthe drawing, the nuts 4| are rotated and the hooks 36 tilted downwardly,causing them to engage the lower edges of opening 42 formed in theoutermost plate I9 of the grouping channel.

Pairs of anges 43 on the portion 21 serve as. a support for threealigned shafts 44, 45 and 46. Although these shafts are illustrated asof the same length they are only so made because of the convenience ofuse in connection with the particular voting set-up. Mounted adjacentthe ends of each of the shafts are arms 41, the free ends of which areconnected by rods 48, 49 and 50. Each rod has several reduced diameterareas 5I, the` purpose ofwhich will hereinafter be set out. Mounted onshafts 44 and 46 are additional arms 52 and 53 respectively. Thecorresponding ends of each of these arms engage rods 48 and and areformed with apertures 54.

Pivotally mounted cn one face of the portion 21 is a pair of cam plates55 and 56. Plate 55' includes an arm 51, the end of which projectsthrough opening 54 of arm 52 carried by shaft; 44. This plate alsoincludes a cam arm 58.. Plate 56 is identical with plate 55, beingreversely disposed and includes an arm 59, the end off which projectsthrough opening 54 in arm 53,. carried by shaft 46. Plate 56 includes acam arm 60. One end of a plate 6| is joined to rod 49.

The other end of this plate is fitted with a pin ing pins 23 that serveto provide three distinct groups corresponding to the groups XY, and Zalready noted in connection with the candidate arrangement on the faceof the machine. In group X, although six candidates are listed, onlythree may be voted for, and three compensators 24 are thereforepositioned in this group. In group YV there are six4 candidates, onlytwo of which may be voted for on the basis .of one and one-half voteseach and four compensators are provided. Similarly, in group Z, whereonly one of the six candidates may be voted for, ve compensators areprovided.

The mechanism by which a voter may selectively cast three ballots, inaccordance with election requirements heretofore mentioned, is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 26. This mechanism includes anupright portion 21,

the lower edge of which is formed with a base or mounting flange 28 thatterminates short of the ends of the portion 21. At the ends arehorizontal iianges 29 which terminate in laterally spaced upstandingVlugs 3| and 32. The lugs .serve not only to engage the under edge ofone of the grouping channel plates i9 but also to properly space themechanism with respect to the channel. Suitable spacing studs 33, on theportion 21, abut a channel plate I9 and also serve as a means ofpositioning the mechanism. The

struckout flanges 34 provide pivotal support for hooks 36 which, in thepresent showing, Project through openings V31 formed by the flanges 34.

yOne-end of each hook is pivotally joined to a clamping screw 39 whichprojects through a sup- V.port 39 carried by the portion 21.

The upper end of the screw is threaded to receive a nut 4| and, when themechanism is mounted as shown 62 that projects through an opening 63 inthe portion 21 and, on the opposite side, is positioned by guide andsecuring means in the form of a washer 64 and pin 65. Y Y Operativeconnection between cam plate 55 and plate 6I is provided through an arm66 pivotallyV supported at one end on the portion 21 and at the otherend formed with a pin 61 that projects through a slot 68 in the portion21. This pin assumes either of two positions with respect to the arm 58,namely, on the inclined surface or on the upper edge thereof (compareFigs. '7 and 9). A bar 69 is mounted for slidable 4movenrient on theportion 21 through the use of pinand .slot structures 1| and 12. One endof this bar is formed with an inclined edge 13 that is adapted tocontact pin 61. The other end of the bar is formed with an inclined edge14 engageable by a pin 16. This pin projects through a slot 11 in theportion 21, being carried by the free end of an arm 18, that ispivotally mounted on the portion 21, One edge of the arm 18 includes anincline 19 located adjacent a notched out portion 80.

Operative connection between the cam plate 56 and the plate 6| isprovided through the use of Yparts'quite similar to those utilized toconnect Yadjacent a notched out portion 90.

As clearly shown in the Gustavson Patent No. 2,303,396, the mechanism 26is connected with the interlocking straps I3 through the use of groupingstraps 9|, which at one end have spaced parts connected by lugs 92. Theparts continue parallel for a short distance and then bend inwardlytoward each other to form a connecting link 93,

the lower end of which terminates in a hook 9,4.

These straps are of a size to enclose a vertical group of interlockingstraps, this group being of a sie corresponding to the number oihorizon-tal rows yof indicators on the voting machine. The hook 94 ofeach such group of straps is engaged with one of the areas 5l of therods 48, 49 and 50, and the lug 82 thereof rests upon the conventionalledges .or shoulders l of the straps 1.3.

The structure of the cumulative mechanism and its association with ,avoting machine having been described, operation thereof is as follows:It is assumed that a voter vhas .elected to @est his three .votes in.the manner prescribed in group that is, a single vote for one, two orthree of the six candidates listed. The rst indicator il that a votermoves into vote indicating position elevates the corresponding groupingstrap 8l and raises shaft 58. Upward movement of this shaft causes camplate 56 to swing upwardly from the position of Fig. 4 into the positionshown in Fig. 8. Such movement of plate 56 has caused certain otherparts of the mechanism to be moved. Arm 8| has been swung about itspivot, contacted edge 84 of plate 86, moving this plate in a directionto cause it to swing arm 88 into Contact with arm 18. As arm 'i8 is thusmoved, the pin T6 thereof contacts the inclined surface 14 of plate 68,moving said last mentioned plate to a position such that the pin 61 ofpivot arm 6B overlies the arm 58 of cam plate 55. It may thus beobserved that as long as cam plate 56 is elevated for voting in group X,the mechanism will not permit simultaneous voting in either groups Y orZ. However, should a voter desire to change his type of balloting fromthat of casting a single vote for one, two, or three candidates asprescribed in group X and, for example, cast a single ballot of threevotes for one candidate as required in group Z, he may actuate thedesired indicator Il on the face of the machine and such movement ofthis indicator will raise bar 48 and cam plate 55. This movement of camplate 55 causes the movable parts of the mechanism to change from theposition of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9. In other words, pin 61 has nowbeen forced, by action of arm 58, to travel in the opposite direction,moving bar 69 to cause reverse swinging movement of arms 18 and 88. Thusbar 86 is moved and the inclined surface thereof, by contact with pin82, causes said pin to ride up the incline of, and overlie, arm 68. Itis to be particularly noted that in voting, in either group X or Z,plate 6I does not function except to swing from one position to another,substantially as indicated in the drawing. By Way of finther example,should the voter again wish to change his mind and cast two single votesof one and one-half each after he has mistakenly indicated his grouppreference in group X or Z, he need merely actuate an indicator il ingroup Y and this will raise a strap 9| in this group, thus elevating rod49. Upward movement of this rod raises plate 5I and the attached pin 62acts to separate or spread apart arms 18 and 88. This spreading of thesearms causes slide bars 69 and 86 to move in opposite directions, or in adirection such that pins 61 and 82 will be caused to overlie arms 58 and60 of cam plates 55 and 56. The extent of upward movement of pin 62 issuch as to bring it into contact with the inclined surfaces 19 and 89 ofarms 18 and 88. It will be understood that the angularity of thesesurfaces, together with the extent of pivotal movement of arms 18 and 88and the various inclined surfaces 13, 14 and 84, is such that either rod48 or 58 may be raised and such movement will cause arms 'I8 and 88 tocome together in a manner to force pin -82 downwardly into ythe positionshown in either Figure 8 or 9 from the lposition shown in Figure 7.

As has already been brought out, a voter is limited tothe casting 4ofthree votes in group X through the provision of three compensators 'in aportion ofthe main grouping channel set aside for this group. Similarly,four compensators are provided in the main channel for group Yin orderthat only two indicators maybe actuated and, of cou-rse, fivecompensators are provided in a further portion of `the main channel setaside for group Z to allow, in the present illustration of theinvention, only one indicator to be actuated.

From the foregoing it should be clearly evident that a voter not onlyhas the option, in connection with cumulative balloting, of castingsingle votes for each of three candidates, one and onehalf votes foreach of two candidates, or three votes for one candidate, but may alsochange his mind at any time during the period in which he is merelyindicating his vote by movement of one or more indicators on the face ofthe machine. Of course, the mechanism by which a voters indicatedpreference is registered cannot be actuated to any extent and stillpermit the voter to change his group selection any more than he couldmake a change under these circumstances with any other type of voting.The mechanism by which all indicators are prevented manipulation fromcommencement of the registering operation is neither shown nor describedsince it is well known and has been in use many years on voting machinesof the type to which this invention is applicable.

Although applicant has shown and described only one specic form of hisinvention, it will be understood that various modifications may be madeand are contemplated insofar as such modifications are within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting machine, a plurality of interlocking straps, threemovable members, means segregating said straps into groups and providingconnection of said groups with said members, swingable platesoperatively associated with the end members, a pair of arms operativelyassociated with the intermediate member, a pair of slidable barsoperatively connecting the plates of the end members with said arms,said plates, arms and bars having such cooperative movement, when oneend member is moved to an operative position, as to secure the remainingmembers and their connected groups in an inoperative position.

2. In a voting machine, a plurality of interlocking straps, threemovable members, means segregating said straps into groups and providingconnection of said groups with said members, linkage operativelyconnected with one endmost member, other linkage operatively connectedwith the other endmost member, a plate joined to the intermediatemember, a pair of pivotal arms cooperable to engage said plate in amanner to move said intermediate member into an inoperative position,and bars operatively connecting said arms with the linkage of saidendmost members whereby movement of either endmost member into anoperative position causes said linkage and bars to actuate said arms towithdraw the intermediate member from an operative to an inoperativeposition.

3. In a voting machine, a plurality of interassociated swingable platesto move an endmost member from an operative to an inoperative position.

ALVIN N. GUSTAVSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the -le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Shoup Dec. 1, 1942 Number

